Chart Beat
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Xavi adds a fourth No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart as “Flores” rises 3-1 to lead the Dec. 21-dated list with the Greatest Gainer honors of the week. Notably, he’s landed all his No. 1 songs in 2024, dating to his first, “La Diabla,” in February. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and […]
With audiences off to see the Wizard, and Elphaba and Glinda, radio is capitalizing on the buzz of Wicked by playing two of the franchise’s signature songs.
Wicked, which adapts the stage musical of the same name that premiered in 2003, opened in North American movie theaters Nov. 22 and has since made more than $500 million in ticket sales worldwide.
Meanwhile, the film’s soundtrack has spent its first three weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Soundtracks chart. Billed to Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande (and various artists), it has earned 321,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in that span, according to Luminate. The set, on Universal Studios/Verve/VLG/Republic, also crowned the Top Album Sales and Vinyl Albums charts and logged its first three weeks on the Billboard 200 in the top 10.
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Notably, when Wicked debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, it claimed the highest arrival in the chart’s 68-year history for a stage-to-big-screen musical soundtrack.
As movie and music fans immerse themselves in Wicked, two of its most beloved songs are scaling Billboard radio charts (dated Dec. 21): Grande’s “Popular” ascends 29-27 on Adult Pop Airplay and 34-29 on Pop Airplay, while Erivo and Grande’s “Defying Gravity” debuts on both rankings at No. 39.
Alongside Wicked’s success, radio’s embrace of the tracks – solely written by Stephen Schwartz – marks the platform’s latest foray into songs from stage and/or movie musicals. In 2022, Encanto’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” ruled the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks and rose to the top 25 on Adult Contemporary, Adult Pop Airplay and Pop Airplay. (In 2023, the intricate earworm won the Grammy for best song written for visual media.)
Plus, “You Will Be Found” from Dear Evan Hansen, the 2017 Tony Award recipient for best musical, spent more than four months in the Adult Contemporary chart’s top 15 from October 2023 through this March, as recorded by Natalie Grant and Cory Asbury.
Historically, however, such songs have been relatively few and far between on radio, despite their built-in familiarity. For every airplay success story, Rent, 1996’s Tony winner for best musical, for instance, did not spin off a pop/adult radio chart hit in its anthem “Seasons of Love.” Conversely, Madonna leveraged her superstar status into play for her version of Evita’s “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Aided by its club- and radio-ready “Miami Mix,” the song reached the Pop Airplay top 10 in 1997.
(Wicked composer Schwartz is enjoying his latest Billboard chart success in a history that dates back to Godspell and its cast’s 1972 No. 13 Hot 100 hit “Day by Day.”)
In 2024, when radio has numerous sources of research, from traditional callout to social media, certain programmers have pounced on playing “Popular” and “Defying Gravity,” even if the former, especially (and like “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”), is essentially a movie excerpt, with Grande singing in her Wicked character.
“First, it stars one of our core artists, Ariana Grande, who not only sounds great, but gives a phenomenal acting performance,” says Tom Poleman, iHeartMedia chief programming officer. “And, as one of the most anticipated movies of the year, it’s a pop culture moment for our listeners. [Pop] stations, in particular, are about reflecting what our listeners are into, and ‘Popular’ and ‘Defying Gravity’ are two of the biggest songs of the moment.”
iHeartMedia’s Pop Airplay reporter WHTZ (Z100) New York played “Popular” and “Defying Gravity” 20 and 16 times, respectively, Dec. 10-16, according to Mediabase.
“No hesitation,” echoes Alex Tear, SiriusXM and Pandora vice president, music programming, of playing “Popular” and “Defying Gravity.” The former aired 57 times on SiriusXM’s TikTok Radio and 44 times on Hits 1, both of which contribute to the Pop Airplay chart, Dec. 10-16. Plus, Adult Pop Airplay panelist The Pulse gave it 50 plays. “Defying Gravity” drew 39 plays on Hits 1 in the same stretch.
“Our listeners expect Hits 1 to be in, and leading, pop culture moments and movements,” Tear says. “We’ve never been focused on ‘typical.’ We’re focused on our listeners’ passions and keeping pace, in addition to being predictive of their favorites.”
Likewise believing that radio can benefit from, and amplify, the conversation around Wicked, Republic released a 3:33-long edit of “Defying Gravity” two weeks after the original version, running 7:39 and including spoken word sections, arrived on the film’s soundtrack. “Popular” is 4:01 in length, along with a mix trimmed to 2:53, with both edits having been added to the Wicked soundtrack on DSPs.
Through Dec. 12, Grande’s “Popular” has totaled 28.8 million official U.S. streams and 15.2 million in all-format airplay audience. Erivo and Grande’s “Defying Gravity” has tallied 35.5 million streams and 6.8 million in radio reach.
“It’s simple,” Tear muses of Hits 1. “We’re a pop channel that’s front and center with pop culture. Our listeners come to hear the ‘now,’ and nothing could be hotter than Wicked.”
Says Poleman, “It came down to the popularity — no pun intended — of this movie.”
Earlier this week, Billboard revealed its year-end Boxscore charts, ranking the top tours, venues, and promoters of 2024. We’re breaking it down further, looking at the biggest live acts, genre by genre. Today, we continue with K-pop. Less than 10 years since the first K-pop group landed on the all-genre Top Tours chart (BigBang in […]
As the holiday catalog rush threatens to subsume the entirety of popular music this week, one breakout artist debuts an entirely new LP on the top five of the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated Dec. 21): ROSÉ.
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The BLACKPINK alum bows at No. 3 this week — behind a sales-surging Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department and a still-hot Kendrick Lamar’s GNX — with her debut solo set Rosie, which moves a very strong 102,000 units in its first week. The album, which features a who’s who of notable pop writers and producers in its credits, is also led by a hit collab with global superstar Bruno Mars, “APT.”
Does the set have another likely hit on it? And what should ROSÉ do next to take advantage of her current momentum? Billboard staffers discuss these questions and more below.
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1. ROSÉ debuts at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 this week with Rosie, moving 102,000 equivalent album units. If you’re ROSÉ or one of her team members, how excited are you feeling about that bow, on a scale of 1-10?
Rania Aniftos: I’m thinking 9. Sure, it’s not No. 1, but to rank so highly on the Billboard 200 with your debut album as a solo artist is a major accomplishment. It also must be validating for ROSÉ to know that while she’s a major star in BLACKPINK, she can also hold strong on her own.
Christopher Claxton: On a scale of 1-10, I’d say I’m at a solid 9 — not quite a 10 yet because the ultimate goal is always No. 1. That said, landing a debut album at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 is an incredible achievement, especially considering how competitive the charts are right now. It’s a testament to the hard work of ROSÉ and her team, as well as the unwavering support of her fans. This milestone sets the stage for even bigger moments in the future, and it’s exciting to see what’s next!
Kyle Denis: A strong 8. Obviously, the prestige of hitting No. 1 on the Billboard 200 is something every artist strives for, but +100k units shifted first week and a No. 3 bow aren’t anything to scoff at. Clearly, there’s a sizable audience that has bought into ROSÉ beyond BLACKPINK and arguably beyond “APT.” — the song is still going strong, but Rosie’s opening-week numbers didn’t benefit from that song’s massive first few weeks.
Jason Lipshutz: An 8. Considering that Taylor Swift’s mega-selling (and newly re-stocked) The Tortured Poets Department and Kendrick Lamar’s recent surprise release GNX are still going strong at the top of the Billboard 200, a No. 3 bow for ROSÉ should be treated as a big win. History tells us that solo projects from members of global pop groups are not guaranteed any fraction of commercial success, so ROSÉ kicking off her solo run with a six-figure equivalent album units debut, in addition to a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, represents a launch that’s well above average.
Andrew Unterberger: An 8 feels right. A six-digit bow for ROSÉ is a very big deal, and if you’re going to debut at No. 3 in the year 2024, Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar are definitely the two artists you are most comfortable with falling behind.
2. Obviously much of the interest around Rosie is centered around “APT.,” the Bruno Mars collab that has topped the Global 200 for the last eight weeks. After debuting at No. 8 on the Hot 100, the song has been buried somewhat in recent weeks by the deluge of holiday songs — but do you think the song still has the legs to keep growing into one of the defining hits of early 2025?
Rania Aniftos: I feel like SZA’s deluxe album will dominate the start of 2025, just like S.O.S did at the beginning of 2023. However, I certainly don’t think we’ve seen the end of “APT.” They’ve only performed it once and, who knows? Maybe they’ll add another star on a remix to amplify it even more.
Christopher Claxton: “APT.” has already proven itself as a global heavyweight, holding the No. 1 spot on the Global 200 for eight weeks —a huge accomplishment. While the track’s Hot 100 placement has dwindled due to the holiday season, its appeal remains the same. Once the sessional surge subsides, I believe this record has a strong chance of making a comeback, especially with its strong fanbase support and Bruno Mars’ signature touch.
Kyle Denis: Absolutely. Once consumers and radio programmers have finished up their holiday break, they’re going to be on the hunt for pop songs that have a bit of familiarity but don’t feel as overplayed as some of 2024 biggest hits. That’s exactly where songs like “APT,” Kendrick’s trio of instant GNX smashes and Gracie Abrams’ “That’s So True” come in. “APT” still hasn’t gotten a remix or a Stateside live performance with both ROSÉ and Bruno present, there’s definitely room to grow.
Jason Lipshutz: We’ll see if “APT.” can surpass its No. 8 peak in January, but I’d suspect that the single will be active in the top 20 of the Hot 100 in early 2025, especially considering how it’s started to make noise on top 40 radio in the U.S. — a platform that’s been notoriously allergic to most K-pop artists. With Mars playing co-pilot, a monster global listenership and now a host album to boost streams, though, “APT.” will likely have legs as we kick off the new year.
Andrew Unterberger: It really feels like we’re just getting started with “APT.” It’s already huge, but not so pervasive that it feels like it’s run its course — there’s still a ton of potential new fans out there that probably haven’t even heard it yet — and radio is only just starting to give it its full support, which should only increase once the holiday rush (and Mars’ other huge late-2024 hit, “Die With a Smile”) starts to die down. I’d be pretty surprised if it didn’t hit a new Hot 100 peak in the first couple months of 2025.
3. Do you think there’s a second hit to be found in the Rosie tracklist? If so, what song or songs do you have your eye on for that?
Rania Aniftos: I’m loving “Toxic Till the End.” It’s such a relatable but fun pop song that, with the proper marketing and maybe some social media virality, could propel ROSÉ to Tate McRae- and Chappell Roan-level pop star ranks as a solo star.
Christopher Claxton: Absolutely! I think the next hit could be “Drinks or Coffee,” which is one of my personal favorites from the project. While it hasn’t cracked the Hot 100 yet, I believe it’s just a matter of time. As listeners spend more time with Rosie, they’ll come to appreciate how special that track is. “Drinks or Coffee” stands out because it captures the complexities of modern-day relationships. ROSÉ and her love interest are at a crossroads of intimacy and hesitation, making it deeply relatable for anyone navigating the push-and-pull of human connection.
Kyle Denis: I have my eye on “Toxic Till the End”; it’s got some cool Eternal Sunshine-esque synths and Guts-nodding guitars that keep it in line with top 40’s general sound while offering a specific combination of elements that feels, at least partially, unique to ROSÉ right now. “Gameboy” could also surprise as the album’s second hit.
Jason Lipshutz: I’m all in on “Toxic Till the End,” which follows up the party-ready chants of “APT.” with relationship angst, mid-tempo frustration and a big, moody chorus. It’s a great showcase for ROSÉ, and the type of confident balladry that could serve as a centerpiece for future live performances. “Toxic” placed high on Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist when Rosie was released, but couldn’t cut through the holiday deluge on the Hot 100; we’ll see if it has a chance to make noise in 2025, but my fingers are crossed.
Andrew Unterberger: “Toxic Till the End” feels like a great lost Avril Lavigne single — which, as any music fan between the ages of 20 and 40 knows, is just about the biggest compliment you can give a pop-rock single. I worry if it will be able to elbow its way onto the Hot 100 as “APT.” continues to grow in the new year, but I hope there’s some late life in it, because this is a song that deserves to become unavoidable.
4. The BLACKPINK ladies have all done fairly well in their solo careers, but do you think with “APT.” and Rosie that ROSÉ is on her way to stardom totally independently of the group’s massive success?
Rania Aniftos: No doubt in my mind. She’s got the full pop star package: the look, the talent, the creativity and the stage presence. If anything, the BLACKPINK girls’ individual successes will boost the group as a whole even more.
Christopher Claxton: Absolutely. If I’m not mistaken, Rosie is now the highest-ranking album on the Billboard 200 by a K-pop female solo artist, which is a huge milestone. Couple that with the global success of “APT.,” and it’s undeniable that ROSÉ is carving out her own space in the music industry. While BLACKPINK’s success has definitely opened the door for her, ROSÉ’s ability to deliver chart-topping hits that not only connect with listeners on a personal level but make their way to additional playlists proves she’s well on her way to becoming a star in her own right.
Kyle Denis: Yes. “APT.” reached the Hot 100’s top 10 in its first week of a release, a region no song from BLACKPINK or her bandmates has ever sniffed. I think Bruno Mars’ co-sign and the shift away from BLACKPINK’s EDM-heavy sound have helped a lot of people tune into ROSÉ. “APT” feels like it’s pierced the top 40 bubble because it’s simply a catchy song, not because of mass fan mobilization or a larger cultural shift. When you hear ROSÉ’s name, “APT” is probably more likely to come to mind than BLACKPINK – and that’s probably the most important step in establishing her as a solo star independent of her group’s success.
Jason Lipshutz: The success of BLACKPINK undoubtedly helped set up ROSÉ’s high-profile bid for solo stardom, but the best thing about Rosie is that it stands on its own: a listener could be a casual fan of the group, or not a fan at all, and still find a lot to love within ROSÉ’s mainstream-friendly yet intimately drawn pop aesthetic. Because of that, I do believe that she’ll be able to balance her work with BLACKPINK with a durable solo career, especially if ROSÉ continues unveiling more of who she is as an artist and person.
Andrew Unterberger: It feels like she’s there. Again, I’d love to see what kind of longevity the album can have into 2025 — and beyond “APT.” — but the rollout so far has been very impressive, and ROSÉ certainly seems to have the talent and the drive to make it stick.
5. If you were working on ROSÉ’s team, what would you be advising her to focus on in the new year to best take advantage of her current pop momentum?
Rania Aniftos: Live shows! She killed it at the MAMA Awards with Bruno, and it would be a great opportunity to bring the songs and her talents face-to-face with fans. With some festival appearances, she can definitely pick up some more fans along the way.
Christopher Claxton: I hate to say it, but a social media trend can truly work wonders for any musician’s career. If I were on ROSÉ’s team, I’d be thinking about what kind of trend we could create for a song from this album or even for her upcoming music in 2025. Whether it’s a dance challenge, a meme, or something entirely unique, a well-executed trend could drastically change the trajectory of a song’s performance. Based on how well her current singles and album are performing, it’s safe to assume her future releases will do great — but imagine how much further her music could go if a trend pushed it beyond her existing fanbase and into entirely new audiences.
Kyle Denis: Stay as visible as possible, just look at Sabrina Carpenter’s 2024.
Jason Lipshutz: I’d advise her to play the Rosie songs live, as often as possible. No clue what she and the rest of the BLACKPINK ladies have cooked up for 2025, but Rosie is strong enough to warrant a proper tour, and ROSÉ is captivating enough to command sizable audiences. Imagine swaying along in a crowd to “Number One Girl” and “Toxic Till the End,” surrounded by cell phone flashlights! Let’s hope it happens next year.
Andrew Unterberger: Yeah, it’s all about the live performances for me. I’m looking forward to seeing ROSÉ lighting up the award show circuit in early 2025, hopefully with a variety of different approaches to different songs that really demonstrates the full extent of what she’s capable of as a pop star and convinces anyone watching that she belongs as a fixture on those stages. I’m optimistic.
Earlier this week, Billboard revealed its year-end Boxscore charts, ranking the top tours, venues, and promoters of 2024. We’re breaking it down further, looking at the biggest live acts, genre by genre. Today, we continue with Latin. Latin music reached unprecedented heights in 2022, when Bad Bunny staged the year’s highest-grossing tour. While no genre […]
Future scores a triple play as his single “Too Fast” reaches No. 1 on three Billboard radio song charts: Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Rhythmic Airplay and Rap Airplay. The track advances to the summit on the lists dated Dec. 21 after it became the most played song on U.S. monitored mainstream R&B/hip-hop and rhythmic radio stations and the most heard song, by audience impression count, on U.S. monitored hip-hop stations in the tracking week ending Dec. 12, according to Luminate.
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“Too Fast,” released on Freebandz/Epic Records, jumps from No. 3 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay after a 3% increase in plays for the week. It becomes Future’s seventh No. 1 on the chart and second of 2024, after “Like That,” his collaboration with Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar, which reigned for three weeks in June. The rapper’s leading collection includes the longest running No. 1 in the chart’s history, the 16-week champ “Wait for U,” featuring Drake and Tems, from 2022.
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Looking at Rhythmic Airplay, “Too Fast” wraps an identical 3-1 leap after a strong 12% surge in weekly plays and likewise is Future’s seventh No. 1 on the radio ranking. On Rap Airplay, the single pushes from the runner-up spot thanks to a 9% rally in audience impressions, giving the rapper his sixth leader.
With its triple coronation, “Too Fast” is the fifth song to rule the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Rhythmic Airplay and Rap Airplay charts in 2024. It joins Future’s collaboration with Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar, “Like That,” Jack Harlow’s “Lovin on Me,” Lamar’s “Not Like Us” and Nicki Minaj’s “Everybody,” featuring Lil Uzi Vert.
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Elsewhere, “Too Fast” climbs 4-3 on the audience-based R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, which ranks songs by combined audience totals from adult R&B and mainstream R&B/hip-hop stations. There, it improved to 13.4 million audience impressions, up 7%. Such gains, in turn, push the track 24-23 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart, with a 9% improvement to 24 million audience impressions across all formats.
“Too Fast” appears on Future’s Mixtape Pluto project, which dropped in September. It became the rapper’s 16th No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, a record by a solo artist and put Future within one leader of tying The Temptations for the most among all acts.
Mariah Carey has overtaken Tom Grennan in the race for the U.K.’s Christmas No. 1 Single, as per a new report from the Official Charts Company published Tuesday (Dec. 17). Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Moving to No. 2 in the midweek charts, Carey’s festive classic “All […]
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” notches its 20th week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart dated Dec. 21, tying the record for the most weeks atop the tally since its 2013 inception. Carey’s holiday classic reigns with 42.7 million official U.S. streams earned in the week ending Dec. 12, […]
Oscar winner and R&B/hip-hop cornerstone Will Smith jumps four spots to No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart (dated Dec. 21) with “You Can Make It” featuring Fridayy and Sunday Service. The song marks each act’s first leader on the list. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news […]
Earlier this week, Billboard revealed its year-end Boxscore charts, ranking the top tours, venues and promoters of 2024. We’re breaking it down further, looking at the biggest live acts, genre by genre. Here, we kick things off with rap. Hip-hop had its biggest year ever on stage. Rap artists accounted for 5.7% of the top […]